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Tag Archives: unemployment

Long, rambling post ahead. Synopsis: I got a new job and it’s great! Keep reading for the long version.

Well I have reached the conclusion to my unemployment saga! I feel pretty fortunate that it luckily wasn’t that long or that traumatizing. Was it ideal? No, absolutely not. But it could have been worse. All in all I was only unemployed for three months. Over the summer. Yes, things definitely could have been worse.

While being unemployed wasn’t particularly traumatizing, it was, obviously, extremely stressful. I’m not sure I realized just how much of an effect it had on my well being until the last few weeks. N and I got engaged in May, and less than a month later I found out I didn’t have a job. That seriously put a damper on the excitement of being engaged and planning a wedding. I wanted nothing to do with wedding planning. It all felt like a huge waste of money. (To be honest, I STILL think it’s a huge waste of money, but now that I have a paycheck again, and the majority of our vendors are booked, I’m feeling a bit more excited.)

I was also very, very cranky over the summer. I knew I was cranky, but I couldn’t seem to snap out of it. I did, however, snap at N on a daily (hourly…minutely…) basis. Now that I’ve been back to work for a few weeks and I’m focusing more on maintaining a schedule, I’ve been feeling A LOT better. I still snap at N probably more often than I should (I’m not perfect and neither is he, hence the snapping), but I like to think I’ve gotten a bit more pleasant to be around.

The end of my job hunt was probably the worst part of being unemployed. I had applied to what felt like a million jobs, and I was either excited about them but super unqualified, or I was qualified but super unexcited. I ended up applying to a company I was really excited about because it was the industry I wanted to be in and had a nearly 100% virtual workforce. Since I’d already been working from home, the thought of going back to an office setting was less than appealing. At the same time, I also applied to the company I had previously worked at for several years, reaching out to some of my contacts there for some help.

I was interviewing with both companies, but the company I used to work for extended an offer before the work from home job did. It wasn’t by any means a great offer – it was less everything (pay, vacation, etc) that I had before I got laid off, and it was even less than what I had when I was working for that company before. The role I was offered wasn’t even doing the type of work I wanted to be doing. All the negatives about that company and my reasons for wanting to leave came rushing back, and I started to panic. I didn’t want to pass up a perfectly good opportunity, especially when it was the only job offer I had received. I pushed them off as long as I could while I waited for the work from home job to complete their interview process. I had a strong gut feeling they would be making me an offer, but I didn’t know for sure. Eventually, I couldn’t put the first offer off any longer, and I had to make a decision.

Whenever I give someone advice, 99% of the time it’s “go with your gut”. Deep down, you already know the solutions to most of the problems you’re facing. The tough part is actually admitting that to yourself. Sometimes what your gut is telling you isn’t what your brain is telling you. Sometimes your gut is suggesting you do something that might even make some aspects of your life HARDER. That’s the position I found myself in. The work from home job sounded so, so amazing – but it was an entry level position and it would mean a big pay cut. I also had no idea how a completely virtual company would work. Even when I worked from home from my last job, the company was based locally and I worked face-to-face with everyone fairly frequently. On the other hand, even though going back to my old company would mean going back to the evil I knew, and even thought it would be familiar, I knew deep down I wouldn’t truly be happy there.

It was super scary, and I worried endlessly I was making a big mistake, but I turned down the first job offer. Without having another offer to fall back on. As soon as I turned it down I felt a HUGE weight lift off my shoulders. I felt terrible about it, and I felt terrible that old colleagues had gone to bat for me for no reason, but I knew it was the right choice for me. Happily, the work from home job called two days later to offer me the job. I gladly took it, feeling optimistic and nervous.

I’m nearing the end of my third week at the new job, and while I’m freaked out about making a lot less money, I can honestly say I am very happy with my decision. Having to make cuts and do without in the short term to have the career I want and feel excited about in the long term is worth it. It’s only been three weeks, but I am already more impressed with this company than I have ever been by any place else I have ever worked. I’m excited to work my little butt off in this next chapter of my career and extremely thankful to be employed again!

The excitement has worn off and has been replaced with complete and utter boredom.

Often while I was employed I would think that if only I didn’t have to work I would have so much time to get things done. My house would be spotless, because I would have time to clean. I would be in great shape because I would have plenty of time to work out and cook nutritious meals. I would finally write that novel I’ve been dreaming about writing since childhood. I’d take a photography class. Learn something new. The possibilities seemed endless!

You know how many of the above things actually happened while I’ve had all this time? None. None of the things. I’ve made half-hearted attempts here and there, but not having a job doesn’t give you more motivation to do anything. If anything, it gives you less. There’s no reason for me to wake up at any particular time in the morning. It requires, for me, at least, a great amount of willpower and coffee to convince myself to do anything more strenuous than sitting on the couch bingeing on Netflix. Without a job to schedule my day around, I’ve found myself without any kind of schedule or routine, and creating one from nothing has turned out to be harder than it sounds.

Another thing that has become a nuisance is requesting my unemployment payment each week. I really shouldn’t complain, since I desperately need that payment and I’m lucky to have it, but the novelty of requesting it has worn off and I find myself claiming it at the last possible second each week. I’ve gotten so lazy that the thirty seconds of “work” it takes to get the unemployment payment seems like a burden. It could be a lot worse – instead of having to physically go to an unemployment office I just have to log on to a website and tell them yes, I am still unemployed and yes, I am still looking for a job.

Looking for a job has also lost the excitement factor. At the beginning of my job hunt, every posting was like a shiny new opportunity full of potential. Now, the decent job listings feel like they’re few and far between and none of them even sound remotely appealing. All the drive and determination I felt at the beginning of my job hunt is slowly fading away.

Basically, being unemployed has gone from making me feel like the world is my oyster to making me feel like the laziest human on the planet. The last few weeks I’ve at least tried to go to bed around the same time and set an alarm for the same time in the morning, which has helped immensely, but I still go through periods where I’m at a loss as to what to do with myself. At this point I can’t wait to find a job just so I have something to do.

Well, I’ve found myself out of a job for the second time in the last three years. A little background: two summers ago I found myself laid off when my department went through a restructuring. It was a stressful few months while I struggled to find another position. I did find something else at the company, but when it wasn’t a great fit for me, I moved on to what I’d hoped was greener pastures.

They WERE greener pastures for awhile. I was working on interesting projects and getting experience in a field I really wanted to work in. However, it was also quickly apparent that this wasn’t going to be a long-term option for me. I planned on staying a year and then starting to look for new opportunities at the end of this summer. Unfortunately, that timeline was moved up a few months when my position was reduced to a part-time contract role, something I can’t currently swing, financially. I’m employed through the first week in August, then I’m on my own in the big wide world. The timing is less than ideal, considering we just bought a house and got engaged.

This has been a pretty tumultuous experience. I’ve known about this since the middle of June, so I’ve had a month to process through this and look for jobs. For the most part, I’m remaining positive and looking at this as an opportunity rather than a set back. I am now open to pursue anything my heart desires. What’s my dream job? What’s my dream company? Where do I want to be in 5, 10, 15 years and what’s going to help me get there? It all feels very exciting. On the flip side, it’s also pretty stressful. The future is unknown. I’m scared we won’t be able to pay our bills. I’m worried I don’t actually have enough valuable work experience to get me a decent paying job in a field I’m interested in. It’s easy to get bogged down in regret when something like this happens, but I think it’s super important not to dwell in the past right now and instead look towards the future. I’m choosing to believe my future is bright and shiny and exciting and will allow me to live comfortably.

I’ve been really doing a lot of thinking about the type of career I want to have, and I’ve settled on something relating to marketing or communications and PR. Way back when I was starting college, that was my original career plan. Somewhere along the way I lost sight of that and I’m ready to get back on track. It isn’t going to be easy, without any experience, but I plan on fighting and clawing my way into that industry if it kills me.

I’ve also been taking a WordPress developer class which I am LOVING. Who knew I’d ever be into code? I really want to explore that more and learn as much as I can, so stay tuned for this space to eventually become my coding playground. In the meantime, can y’all keep your fingers crossed, send prayers and/or good wishes, or just straight up let me know if you know of any great jobs out there?!

My brief yet stressful stint as an unemployed woman is over! Though I suppose I was never technically unemployed in the first place. This whole short series was a complete lie right from the start.

Anyway, I’m officially employed now so it doesn’t even matter anymore. I’m still at the same company, which I have mixed feelings about. On the one hand, I am a creature of habit and this place is familiar to me now. On the other hand, I now have a sour taste in my mouth due to this place and I don’t exactly feel as secure here as I once did. i do really like my new job so far, though. I’m doing copy editing and I’m really excited to begin building my skills in this area. I think this will help make me better suited for more opportunities in the future and will hopefully help me on my way to my dream job.

The work is so completely different from everything I was doing before. It’s so relaxing! I don’t dread coming in to work anymore. I don’t have to worry about meetings and putting fires out and playing goalie with my inbox. I just get to come in, quietly do my work, and go home. It’s fabulous. It’s providing me with a much needed mental break.

I’m just happy I can get my life back on track. Though I think the track may look a bit different from here on out. Stay tuned. I think it’s going to be good.

I still don’t have a job, in case you were all wondering. The search continues.

In the meantime, I am still somewhat employed at my previous/current place of business as the kind people I have worked with for the past five years do their best to try to find a way for me to stay with the company. I am forever grateful for their help and support, but at the same time, living in this limbo land of not-quite-employed is really not good for my anxiety levels. I’m waiting to hear back on one last possible opportunity there, so I should know whether I am staying or going by the end of this week.

As time goes by, I have found myself beginning to form a sort of plan. Maybe not a plan, exactly, but I am starting to get a clearer idea of the kinds of work I’d like to be doing and the type of place I’d like to work.

I need to be doing something creative. I want to be doing something creative. I sit here and go on and on about how I want to write! I want to be a writer! But I don’t actually do anything about it.

For years I’ve been toying with the idea of studying graphic design. “That seems like so much fun,” I would think, “But I don’t know anything about it.”

For a brief but intense few weeks I was hell bent on going back to school to be a teacher. Further consideration of this plan has convinced me that no, I don’t. Those summers off always try to lure me in. But I’m pretty sure teachers should want to educate the future of America and create well rounded and bright young individuals. And I just want summer off to go to the beach and do all this writing I’m always going on about. So that seemed like a misguided idea.

So I made the decision to go back to school. For a certificate in graphic design. A slightly less expensive and commitment intense option. If it turns out I really love it and can see the benefit of having a second bachelors, then those classes can go towards attaining one. If all goes according to plan, I should be taking my first class in January.

In the meantime, I’m still struggling to find something to pay the bills and provide me with health insurance. Wish me luck? I sure do need it.

I have this tattooed on the inside of my wrist because as a self proclaimed control freak, going with the flow can sometimes be hard for me.

Che sara, sara. What will be, will be. Everything will be okay.

I’ve been glancing at my wrist a lot this week. This has been one of craziest, scariest, most surreal weeks of my life.

On Monday, I found out the position I currently hold at my company has been eliminated, thus leaving me jobless.

There have been whispers and rumors and all kinds of speculation that something was going down at work, but I don’t think any of us thought it was going to be quite so drastic.There’s a lot of background and details surrounding this event, but I’m not going to get into them. Suffice it to say that as of August 30th I am no longer employed by my company and for the next week and a half all I am supposed to do is forward emails. Which I can do from my couch.

My initial reaction to this news was “Fuck me.” Which was immediately followed by “Funemployment!” So basically I have been on a complete roller coaster of emotion this week ranging from “my life is the worst” to “this is awesome”. As a weird coincidence, my BFF H also lost her job last week, so at the very least I am in good company.

I’m not sure how things will pan out. My brain is going in a thousand different directions as I try to figure out what my best option is.

On the plus side, I now have plenty of time to blog and I’m sure this experience will result in lots of blog fodder, so stay tuned.